Iran WW1: The Great War's Forgotten Battlefield & Its Lasting Scars

Sherwood Wisoky 22 Jun 2025

Iran, a nation striving for neutrality, found itself irrevocably drawn into the maelstrom of World War I, becoming a critical, yet often overlooked, theater of conflict. Far from the trenches of Europe, the Great War's "shrapnel had blinded the eyes of the Iranians," transforming Persia (now Iran) into a battleground for imperial ambitions.

This article delves into the complex role of Iran during World War I, exploring how its strategic location, nascent oil interests, and internal vulnerabilities made it a prize to be contested by the Ottoman, British, and Russian Empires. We will uncover the devastating impact of this forgotten war, from widespread famine and political fragmentation to a prolonged struggle for true sovereignty, revealing why the history of Iran WW1 is crucial for understanding the nation's modern trajectory.

Table of Contents:

Iran's Precarious Neutrality: A Nation Caught in the Crossfire
The Persian Campaign: A Multi-Front Conflict
A Strategic Chessboard: Why Persia Mattered
The Unseen Scars: Famine, Disease, and Economic Ruin
- The Great Famine of 1917-1919: A Catastrophe Unfolding
- The Shadow of the Spanish Flu
Shattered Hopes: The Erosion of Sovereignty
Resistance and Resilience: A Nation's Struggle
The Aftermath: Lingering Legacies and Delayed Departures
Beyond the Battlefield: Reclaiming Iran's Narrative

Iran's Precarious Neutrality: A Nation Caught in the Crossfire

When the Great War erupted in Europe in 1914, Persia (now Iran) held onto a desperate hope of remaining neutral. The Qajar dynasty, already weakened by internal strife and external pressures, formally declared its neutrality, a desperate plea to avoid entanglement in a conflict far from its borders. Yet, this declaration proved to be little more than a paper shield against the colossal forces at play. Persia’s strategic geographical position, acting as a crucial land bridge between Europe and Asia, coupled with its burgeoning oil reserves, made its neutrality an impossible dream. It was a nation caught between the ambitions of powerful empires, each vying for dominance and control over vital resources and strategic pathways.

By 1912, the Persian state had never been so weak, its political independence already compromised by a series of colonial contracts, notably those of 1907 and 1915, which effectively divided the country into spheres of influence. The British asserted their dominance in the south, driven by their insatiable demand for oil, while the Russians carved out their sphere in the north. This pre-existing fragmentation, coupled with a fragile central government, rendered Persia utterly vulnerable. The declaration of neutrality, while noble in intent, merely highlighted the country's profound powerlessness in the face of the encroaching storm that would define Iran WW1.

The Persian Campaign: A Multi-Front Conflict

The "Persian campaign" or "invasion of Iran" (Persian: اشغال ایران در جنگ جهانی اول) was not a single, unified invasion but rather a complex series of military conflicts that unfolded across various areas of what was then neutral Qajar Iran. Beginning in December 1914 and concluding with the Armistice of Mudros on 30 October 1918, this campaign formed a significant, albeit often overlooked, part of the Middle Eastern Theatre of World War I. It pitted the Ottoman Empire against the combined forces of the British Empire and the Russian Empire, transforming Iran into a brutal battleground where imperial ambitions clashed violently.

The Russian Encroachment: From Tabriz to Tehran

Russian involvement in Iran was not new; it predated the Great War. The Russians had occupied Tabriz on 30 April 1909, and negotiations for its withdrawal, though initiated, had dragged on for years. This persistent presence underscored Russia's long-standing ambitions in northern Iran. With the outbreak of World War I, these ambitions intensified. The suspension, for the second time, of the constitution and the occupation of northern Iran by Russian troops plunged the country into a situation that was diametrically opposed to what it had known in 1906, when the Shah, in his famous edict, had convened the first parliament and responded to the desires of the demonstrators. In November 1911, Russia marched on Tehran, enforcing Allied terms on the Shah, a blatant violation of Iran's sovereignty that only served to increase unrest elsewhere in the country. The Russian operations were eventually halted by the Russian Revolution in 1917, leading to a temporary vacuum, but their impact on the early years of Iran WW1 was profound.

British Interests and the Southern Front

For the British Empire, Persia was primarily "a forgotten war for oil." The strategic importance of Iranian oil fields, particularly in the south, was paramount to their war effort and future imperial designs. The British, who along with the Russians had already divided Persia into spheres of influence—the British in the south, the Russians in the north—were determined to protect their interests. When German agents attempted to incite the southern tribes against the British, Britain responded by creating an armed force, the South Persia Rifles, specifically to protect its vital assets. This was not the first time Britain had used military force to exert pressure on Iran; historical precedents, such as the capture of Herat by Iran and Britain's subsequent declaration of war, leading to the attack and occupation of Bushehr in 1856, demonstrated a long-standing pattern of intervention. During Iran WW1, the British military presence and its actions were a direct reflection of their economic and strategic imperatives.

Ottoman Ambitions and Western Persia

The Ottoman Empire, aligned with the Central Powers, saw Persia as a crucial arena to open a new front against their Russian and British adversaries. The "Persian campaign or invasion of Persia" involved a series of engagements primarily in northern Persian Azerbaijan and western Persia between the British Empire and the Russian Empire against the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans aimed to exploit the existing discontent within Iran, particularly among the Azerbaijani population, and to potentially link up with their Turkic brethren. Their military incursions were often characterized by fierce fighting, as they sought to push eastward, disrupt Allied supply lines, and challenge the Anglo-Russian spheres of influence. The presence of Ottoman troops further complicated Iran's already dire situation, adding another layer of conflict and devastation to a country struggling to maintain its integrity during Iran WW1.

A Strategic Chessboard: Why Persia Mattered

Persia (now Iran) was far more than just a neutral bystander in World War I; it was a strategic and political battleground for Britain, Russia, Germany, and the Ottoman Empire. Its geographical location was of immense geopolitical importance, serving as a buffer zone between the Russian Empire and British India, and offering potential routes for expansion or disruption. For Britain, the primary driver was oil. The Anglo-Persian Oil Company, established in 1909, held exclusive rights to oil exploration and extraction across vast swathes of Iran. Securing these oil fields was critical for the British Navy, which was increasingly converting its fleet to oil-fired engines, making Iranian oil a vital component of the Allied war machine. This quest for oil transformed the conflict in Iran into "a forgotten war for oil," underscoring the economic underpinnings of imperial rivalry.

Russia, on the other hand, sought to solidify its long-standing ambitions for warm-water ports and greater influence in the Caucasus and Central Asia, with northern Iran serving as a direct pathway. Germany, though lacking a direct border, actively supported the Ottoman Empire and dispatched agents to Iran, attempting to arouse the southern tribes against the British and destabilize Allied interests. These German efforts, though ultimately unsuccessful in turning the tide, forced Britain to commit significant resources, such as the South Persia Rifles, to counter them. The Ottoman Empire, sharing a long border with Iran, aimed to expand its influence, potentially reclaim lost territories, and disrupt Russian and British operations. Thus, Iran became a complex chessboard where each move had implications for the broader global conflict, highlighting the profound impact of Iran WW1 on regional and international power dynamics.

The Unseen Scars: Famine, Disease, and Economic Ruin

Beyond the direct military engagements, the most devastating impact of World War I on Persia was the catastrophic humanitarian crisis that unfolded. The presence of a large group of foreign troops occupying Iran from the start of the war delivered a heavy blow to the economics and agriculture of the nation. Requisitioning of food supplies by occupying armies, disruption of trade routes, and the destruction of agricultural land severely crippled Iran's ability to feed its population. This economic devastation, combined with successive droughts, marked the most extreme famine of the century in Iran, a tragedy that claimed millions of lives and left an indelible scar on the nation's psyche. The suffering during Iran WW1 extended far beyond the battlefield, reaching into every household.

The Great Famine of 1917-1919: A Catastrophe Unfolding

The Great Famine of 1917-1919 stands as one of the darkest chapters in Iranian history. While exact figures remain elusive due to the lack of sufficient data on this period, estimates suggest that millions perished, a significant portion of the country's population at the time. The controversy surrounding the death toll and root causes of the famine has persisted for decades, fueled by historical revisionism and polarization in Iran in recent years. Some argue that the famine was a direct consequence of the deliberate policies of the occupying powers, particularly Britain, who allegedly diverted food supplies to their troops and allies while blocking imports to Iran. Others point to a combination of factors, including severe droughts, internal mismanagement, and the general chaos of war. Regardless of the precise breakdown of causes, the famine was an undeniable catastrophe, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict and foreign occupation, making it a central tragedy of Iran WW1.

The Shadow of the Spanish Flu

Adding another layer of horror to an already dire situation, the Spanish Flu pandemic spread worldwide during the last year of World War I. This deadly pandemic entered Iran in the middle of the ongoing starvation, as noted by Golshani et al. The combination of a weakened, malnourished population and the highly contagious nature of the influenza virus proved catastrophic. The existing conditions of famine, displacement, and the breakdown of public health infrastructure created a perfect storm for the rapid and devastating spread of the disease. The Spanish Flu, coupled with the famine, compounded the death toll and inflicted unimaginable suffering on the Iranian populace, turning the final years of Iran WW1 into a period of unprecedented national trauma.

Shattered Hopes: The Erosion of Sovereignty

World War I truly "shattered Iran," not just in terms of human lives and economic stability, but fundamentally in its political independence. The country's declared neutrality was brutally disregarded, leading to a large group of foreign troops occupying Iran from the very start of the war. This military occupation, combined with the pre-existing colonial contracts of 1907 and 1915, meant that Iran had effectively lost its political independence. The suspension, for the second time, of the constitution and the pervasive presence of Russian and British forces plunged the country into a situation that was diametrically opposed to the hopes and aspirations that had emerged with the Constitutional Revolution of 1906. That year, the Shah, in his famous edict, had convened the first parliament and responded to the desires of the demonstrators, signaling a nascent move towards self-governance. However, the events of Iran WW1 brutally reversed this progress, leaving the Qajar state in a state of utter powerlessness and its people under foreign domination.

Resistance and Resilience: A Nation's Struggle

Despite the overwhelming foreign occupation and the profound weakness of the central government, the spirit of resistance was not entirely extinguished in Iran during World War I. While the two superpowers, Britain and Russia, had managed to quell any remnants of organized resistance in western, central, and southern Iran, and with it, the immediate thought of succumbing to foreign influence seemed lost yet again, pockets of defiance and nationalist sentiment persisted. Various local movements and tribal uprisings, though often isolated and lacking central coordination, emerged in response to the foreign presence and the devastating conditions. These movements, while not always successful in driving out the occupiers, kept the flame of Iranian sovereignty alive. For instance, internal friction within some nationalist movements, where some members had diverging tendencies toward Ahmad Shah Qajar while others, such as Mirza, specifically called for an independent Iranian state, highlighted the complex and evolving nature of the national struggle. This period, despite its hardships, also sowed the seeds for future nationalist movements and the eventual reassertion of Iranian independence, demonstrating the enduring resilience of the Iranian people throughout Iran WW1.

The Aftermath: Lingering Legacies and Delayed Departures

Even after the Armistice of Mudros officially ended the Persian Campaign on October 30, 1918, and the broader World War I concluded, Iran's ordeal was far from over. The last British and Russian troops did not fully withdraw from Iran until 1921, three years after the war's official end (Atabaki, 2016, p. 182). However, the lingering presence of foreign influence, particularly from the newly formed Soviet Union, continued to cast a long shadow. Soviet troops did not withdraw from Iran proper until May 1946, following Iran's official complaint to the newly formed United Nations Security Council. This complaint became the first filed by a country in the UN's history, serving as a crucial test for the UN's effectiveness in resolving global issues in the aftermath of the war. This protracted foreign presence and the subsequent international diplomatic struggle underscored the profound and lasting impact of Iran WW1 on the nation's sovereignty and its future geopolitical standing. The war had not only ravaged the country but also set the stage for decades of external interference and internal political struggles.

Beyond the Battlefield: Reclaiming Iran's Narrative

The history of Iran WW1, often overshadowed by the Western Front, is a vital chapter in global history that deserves greater recognition. Documentaries like BBC Persian's "Iran 1918" have begun to shed light on this forgotten war, bringing its devastating consequences, particularly the famine, to a wider audience. However, as noted, much of the controversy surrounding the famine, its death toll, and root causes persists, often subject to conspiracy theories, polarization, and historical revisionism in Iran. The lack of sufficient data on this period has been described as the principal driver for this ongoing debate. Reclaiming and accurately narrating Iran's experience during World War I is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of the nation's modern identity, its enduring struggles for independence, and its complex relationship with global powers.

In conclusion, Iran WW1 represents a pivotal, yet tragic, period in the nation's history. Despite its declared neutrality, Persia was transformed into a battleground for competing imperial powers, enduring a devastating campaign that led to widespread famine, economic ruin, and a profound erosion of its sovereignty. The war's shrapnel indeed blinded the eyes of the Iranians, leaving deep scars that shaped the country's trajectory for decades to come. Understanding this forgotten chapter is essential for appreciating Iran's resilience and its ongoing quest for self-determination.

Did you find this exploration of Iran's role in World War I insightful? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or consider sharing this article to help shed light on this crucial, often overlooked, historical period. Explore more articles on our site to delve deeper into the rich and complex history of Iran.

Iran Wants To Negotiate After Crippling Israeli Strikes | The Daily Caller

Israel targets Iran's Defense Ministry headquarters as Tehran unleashes

Iran Opens Airspace Only For India, 1,000 Students To Land In Delhi Tonight

RealTime Reports